Intermodal Shipping A Glance at Clean Freight Strategies Intermodal freight transport combines the best attributes of both truck and rail shipping. For long distances, intermodal freight moves can cut fuel use and green- ENERGY & house gas emissions, compared to truck-only moves. FUEL SAVINGS What is the challenge? Gallons Saved: Moving freight long distances by rail rather than by truck can save fuel and reduce greenhouse 1,292 gallons gas emissions. This is because a freight train with 20 to 50 railroad cars can carry much more cargo per gallon of diesel fuel than can a combination truck. However, trucks can usually offer CO2 Savings: more service and scheduling options than trains. Because of these distinctions, trucks move over 13 metric tons four times as much freight as rail. Increased business competition and international trade is fueling the growth of intermodal freight Fuel Economy transport. The total number of trailers and containers shipped by intermodal rail grew by nearly Increase: 33 percent between 1998 and 2008. 9% What is the solution? MPG Railroad freight cars carry cargo over long distance, high volume corridors. Trucks or barges (original 6 mpg): move the loads between the rail terminals and the cargo’s ultimate origin or destination. 7.12 mpg Reduction in Fuel Types of Intermodal Shipping Consumption: • Trailer on flat car, commonly called TOFC, or “piggyback.” In a TOFC move, rein- forced truck trailers mount on railroad flat cars or spine cars (frame-like cars with a 9% middle bar or spine) for the rail leg of the trip, and hook to combination trucks for the rest of the trip. Fuel Cost Savings: • Container on flat car or COFC uses metal shipping containers on a railroad flat $4,912 car or spine car for the rail part of the trip. Containers are typically loaded onto a container chassis (a frame-like truck trailer) for the trucked leg of the trip. • Double stacking is the most efficient way to move containers long distances over land. Two stacked containers on a railroad well car (a rail car with a “well” into which the bottom container partly sits) is known as double stack service. Double stack railroad well cars may be permanently coupled together to decrease stress and cargo dam age during train braking and acceleration. Technological Advances of Intermodal Shipping • Truck trailers can be configured to travel on railroad tracks. The trailer is backed onto the end of a railroad track, positioned over two sets of rail- road axles and wheels (called bogeys), then lowered and attached, so it functions as a railroad car. • Rail car platforms can be configured into one longer articulated platform, onto which trucks can drive to load and unload trailers. Because the long, articulated platform has no slack action, it can handle standard, non-reinforced trailers that normally cannot be used in TOFC operation Continued U.S. EPA SmartWay | EPA-420-F-16-034 | June 2016 | www.epa.gov/smartway Intermodal Shipping A Glance at Clean Freight Strategies Continued Savings and Benefits Intermodal transport is an attractive option for shipments over 500 miles. A freight train emits two-thirds less greenhouse gas emissions for every ton mile than a typical truck. More than 1 billion gallons of fuel would be saved each year if 10 percent of the highway freight was moved by rail. NEXT STEPS Shippers, logistics Companies can Continued 1providers, and 2determine if 2Damage-sensitive trucking companies intermodal transport commodities may can consider inter- is appropriate for call for a smoother modal transport as a parts of their com- ride than freight cost-saving and envi- pany. Intermodal trains can provide. ronmentally friendly transport may not However, rail car option when arrang- be suitable for all manufacturers are ing for long distance goods. Time-sensitive introducing advanced transport. products may require suspension systems speedier or more and car designs that flexible delivery than better stabilize, cush- some railroads offer. ion and protect railed cargo..